Concurrent logic operations using decoder circuitry of a look-up table

ABSTRACT

A look-up table circuit includes address decoder circuitry that includes circuitry for utilizing the address decoder circuitry for producing secondary functions concurrently with operation of the address decoding operations. This eliminates or reduces secondary functions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to concurrent logic operations using decoder circuitry of a look-up table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes lookup tables (LUTs), which can be programmed to implement different functions. Lookup tables are used to implement functions of ‘n’ inputs, where ‘n’ depends on the size of lookup table and the addressing scheme involved. The lookup table is most efficiently used when its number of inputs are fully utilized, and there are many combinations formed based upon the inputs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,829 describes an implementation for a lookup table decoder.

[0003] The Xilinx programmable logic data book (Feb. 16, 1999, Version 1.3, Pages 3-9) describes the Virtex architecture with a dedicated multiplier by adding a two input AND gate at two of the four inputs of the lookup table 4, as shown in FIG. 1. This is a dedicated multiplier, and is particularly useful while designing large multipliers. It is also useful in many other applications. The major disadvantage lies in the fact that a separate AND gate is fabricated with each LUT for achieving the AND gate functionality. A significant amount of chip area is used in fabricating the AND gates along with the lookup table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An object of the present invention is to prevent the above described drawbacks by utilizing the decoder circuit gates of a look-up table for achieving the same functionality, and thereby eliminating the need for an additional AND gate.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the additional circuitry required for generation of XOR/XNOR functions by using a single NOR gate.

[0006] These and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by an improved look-up table (LUT) that includes address decoder circuitry comprising means or circuitry for utilizing the address decoder circuitry for producing secondary functions concurrently with the address decoding operations, thereby eliminating or reducing additional circuitry required for generating the secondary functions.

[0007] The means or circuitry is a selected output of the address decoder used to produce an AND function of two predetermined inputs of the decoder. The means may also be a NOR gate connected to two selected outputs of the address decoder for producing an EXCLUSIVE-OR or EXCLUSIVE-NOR function of two predetermined inputs to the decoder. The means may also be a programmable AND-NOR logic array for producing a sum-of-products/product-of-sums output from selected outputs of the address decoder.

[0008] The look-up table may be used in a configurable logic element. The present invention also provides a programmable logic device containing a plurality of configurable logic elements.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for eliminating or reducing the additional circuitry required for the generation of secondary functions. The method comprises utilizing the address decoder circuitry in the lookup table for producing the secondary functions concurrently with the address decoding operations.

[0010] The selected output of the address decoder is used to produce an AND function of two predetermined inputs of the decoder. A NOR gate may be connected to two selected outputs of the address decoder for producing an EXCLUSIVE-OR or EXCLUSIVE-NOR function of two predetermined inputs to the decoder. A programmable AND-NOR logic array may also be used for producing a sum-of-products/product-of-sums output from selected outputs of the address decoder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0012]FIG. 1 illustrates a lookup table with a two input AND gate according to the prior art.

[0013]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate decoder circuits in accordance with the present invention used in conventional FPGAs and CPLDs.

[0014]FIG. 4 illustrates a lookup table with a primary lookup table output and a secondary product term output according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 5 illustrates XOR and XNOR gate functionalities using a single NOR gate according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 6 illustrates a more complex and flexible embodiment using the primary decoder gates as an AND gate array along with a secondary NOR gate array for generating sum-of-product terms according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] A field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) include a plurality of lookup tables (LUTs), and an address decoder associated with each of the lookup tables. The following description assumes a four input lookup table. Referring to FIG. 1, a four input lookup table includes four inputs labeled as A, B, C and D. Two of the many possible circuits of the lookup table address decoders are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0018] The address decoder circuitry is partially shown, with the upper half not being shown. Only the C and D inputs to the lookup table are shown, and the descriptions for the C and D inputs are equally valid for the A and B inputs. The primary decoder for a four input lookup table in the present embodiments includes eight NOR gates and eight AND gates as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which partially illustrates the structure. The outputs of these decoder gates drive pass transistors that connect between the lookup table latches and the output of the circuit structure. The primary decoder logic gates, if appropriately resized, may be exploited for generation of other functions, without the burden of any extra propagation delays.

[0019]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a convenient method of obtaining a dedicated product term output from the lookup table decoder logic gates. This output is illustrated as a C, D product term in FIGS. 2 and 3 which is available at line 7 and line 10 by the inherent virtue of the decoder circuitry. Thus, the decoder circuitry does away with the need of a separate AND gate for product term functionality in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a lookup table with a primary lookup table output, and a secondary product term output.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, some of the other simple gate functionalities like XOR (11) and XNOR (12) are also possible from the decoder circuitry by using a single NOR gate. After appropriately resizing the decoder gates, one can tap the decoder gate outputs to generate other gate functions. A large number of such embodiments are possible as many more gates can be connected to the decoder gate outputs to generate complex functions.

[0021]FIG. 6 illustrates a more complex and flexible embodiment which uses the primary decoder gates as an AND array, and a secondary NOR gate array for generating sum-of-product terms. The primary decoder/AND array outputs, which further drive the decoder pass transistors are labeled as 15.

[0022] The reference 14 depicts a configurable switch, which can either be a pass transistor or a buffer type switch. The switch arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is one of the many that are possible, and can be varied depending on the requirement. The sum-of-products/product-of-sums output is available at the output of the secondary array at 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d.

[0023] Also, any type or number of gates can form the secondary array in other embodiments. The above mentioned structures give rise to FPGA architectures with the flexibility of a lookup table and a programmable gate array with a substantial savings in hardware resources. Thus, it is clear that decoder circuitry of a lookup table can be utilized for a broad range of functions without disturbing operation of the lookup table. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. An improved Look-Up Table (LUT) including address decoder circuitry comprising means for utilizing said address decoder circuitry for producing secondary functions concurrently with the address decoding operations, thereby eliminating or reducing additional circuitry required for generating said secondary functions.
 2. An improved Look-Up Table as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means is a selected output of said address decoder used to produce an AND function of two predetermined inputs of said decoder.
 3. An improved Look-Up Table as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means is a NOR gate connected to two selected outputs of said address decoder for producing an EXCLUSIVE-OR or EXCLUSIVE-NOR function of two predetermined inputs to said decoder.
 4. An improved Look-Up Table as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means is a programmable AND-NOR logic array for producing sum-of-products/product-of-sums output from selected outputs of said address decoder.
 5. A Look-Up Table (LUT) as claimed in claim 1 used in a configurable logic element.
 6. A programmable logic device containing a plurality of configurable logic elements as claimed in claim
 5. 7. A method for eliminating or reducing the additional circuitry required for generation of secondary functions comprising utilizing the address decoder circuitry in LUT for producing said secondary functions concurrently with the address decoding operations.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein a selected output of said address decoder is used to produce an AND function of two predetermined inputs of said decoder.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein a NOR gate is connected to two selected outputs of said address decoder for producing an EXCLUSIVE-OR or EXCLUSIVE-NOR function of two predetermined inputs to said decoder.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein a programmable AND-NOR logic array is used for producing sum-of-products/product-of-sums output from selected outputs of said address decoder. 